How Many Calories Are in a Chicken Wing?

Chicken wings are a popular appetizer and snack food But many people wonder – just how many calories are in a chicken wing? The answer depends on a few factors. Keep reading to learn more about the calorie content of chicken wings

What Part of the Chicken Wing Has More Calories?

Chicken wings are typically separated into three parts:

• The drumette – the thickest part of the wing that looks like a little drumstick.

• The flat or wingette – the double bone that looks like a flat triangle

• The wing tip – the pointed end section beyond the flat

The drumette contains the most meat and fat, so it has the most calories. The flat has a bit less calories, while the wing tip contains the least.

Below is a calorie comparison of the three parts based on data from the USDA:

• Drumette: around 50 calories
• Flat: around 45 calories
• Wing tip: around 20 calories

About 10 more calories are in the drumette than in the flat and 30 more are in the wing tip.

How Many Calories in Chicken Wings of Different Sizes?

Because they have more meat and fat, bigger chicken wings will have more calories. Most chicken wings come in servings of two to three ounces (57 to 85 grams).

Here are the calories for different chicken wing sizes:

• Small chicken wing (2 oz): around 40 calories
• Medium chicken wing (2.5 oz): around 50 calories
• Large chicken wing (3 oz): around 60 calories

As you go up in weight, the calories increase by about 10 calories per half ounce of chicken wing.

What Factors Influence the Calories in Chicken Wings?

Aside from size, a few other factors impact the calorie content in chicken wings:

1. How It’s Cooked

Fried chicken wings have more calories than baked, grilled, or air-fried wings. Frying adds a significant amount of oil, boosting the calorie count. For example, a fried drumette can have over 100 calories compared to around 50 calories for a grilled drumette.

2. Skin or No Skin

Chicken skin contains fat, so wings cooked with the skin on have about 50% more calories than wings with the skin removed. Leaving the skin on can add 20-30 calories more per wing.

3. Flavors and Sauces

Plain wings have the least calories. But cooked wings are often flavored with sauces like Buffalo, BBQ, or teriyaki. Thick, creamy sauces like ranch or blue cheese also get added for dipping. These flavored sauces can add 50-100 calories per tablespoon. So the more sauce on your wings, the more calories you’ll consume.

4. Brands and Restaurants

The exact calorie count will vary between different brands and places you order wings from. Each restaurant has their own recipes, cooking methods, and portion sizes that affect the calorie content. Checking nutrition facts on websites can give you better estimates for different restaurants.

Calorie Ranges for Different Chicken Wing Styles

Here is a summary of the typical calorie ranges for some popular chicken wing styles:

• Plain grilled/baked wings:

  • Small: 30-50 calories per wing
  • Medium: 40-60 calories per wing
  • Large: 50-70 calories per wing

• Breaded wings:

  • Small: 50-70 calories per wing
  • Medium: 60-80 calories per wing
  • Large: 70-90 calories per wing

• Fried wings:

  • Small: 60-80 calories per wing
  • Medium: 70-100 calories per wing
  • Large: 80-120 calories per wing

• Boneless wings:

  • Around 70-90 calories per 3-4oz serving

• Sauced wings with dipping sauce:

  • Can add 50-150 calories per wing depending on amount of sauce

How to Eat Chicken Wings While Managing Calories

Here are some tips to enjoy chicken wings without going overboard on calories:

• Stick to a 2-3 wing serving or 1 serving of boneless wings (about 3-4 oz).

• Choose baking, grilling, or air frying instead of frying.

• Skip the skin to remove excess fat and calories.

• Opt for lighter sauces like hot sauce rather than thick, creamy dips.

• Blot off excess sauce with a napkin before eating.

• Have celery sticks and carrot sticks on hand for filling, low-calorie dippers.

• Pair wings with a side salad instead of fries or fatty dips for a more balanced meal.

• Watch portion sizes of any dipping sauces and limit to 1-2 tablespoons per serving.

The Bottom Line

So how many calories are in a chicken wing? On average, a medium naked grilled wing has around 50 calories while a breaded fried wing can have 100+ calories. Just a few wings with sauce can add up to over 500 calories. Pay attention to portion sizes, cooking methods, and sauces to keep your wing meal under control calorie-wise. Knowing nutrition info can help you indulge while still sticking to your diet goals.